The 66th Annual Convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) highlighted the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across the automotive value chain, from product development and manufacturing to customer experience.
The theme was explored during Special Plenary Session 2, titled “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Across the Automotive Value Chain: Global Learnings.” The session brought together global technology and industry experts to discuss how AI is reshaping automotive businesses and creating new opportunities for efficiency, innovation and sustainable mobility.
Speaking on “AI Improving New Product Development Timelines,” Alexander Will, Partner, McKinsey & Company, Greater China, highlighted AI’s potential to transform automotive engineering and research and development.
“AI presents another re-platforming of engineering, potentially reshaping the speed of R&D. Agentic AI can enhance product and workforce performance, enabling engineers to focus more on decision-making and oversight. For India, AI in R&D could extend beyond productivity improvements and support the economic and technological viability of sustainable mobility,” Will said.
The discussion also examined how AI is changing the way consumers interact with vehicles and automotive brands.
Shivani Govil, Venture Partner, TBP Venture Fund and Former Senior Executive, Product Management, Developer 1P, Google, United States, speaking on “The Increasing Role of AI in Shaping Automotive Customer Experience,” said AI is transforming the automotive journey across multiple touchpoints.
“AI is reimagining the entire car experience, from buying and driving to maintenance, insurance and safety. As this transformation accelerates, ecosystem readiness across infrastructure, technology and supply chains will be critical. India’s startup ecosystem, talent pool and focus on sustainability give it a unique opportunity to lead in this space,” Govil said.
Shunichi Kawamata, Senior Manager and APJ Lead for Industry Specialists and Solutions, Automotive and Manufacturing, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Japan, discussed “Technology Developments for the Auto Sector in AI,” highlighting the importance of data and organisational readiness for successful AI adoption.
“AI can be the biggest accelerant or the biggest anchor for an organisation. It is changing how every role in a product team works, with connected and governed data enabling transformation across the enterprise. The real question is how quickly an organisation can turn this transformation into value for the customer,” Kawamata said.
Santosh Iyer, Treasurer, SIAM and Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India Pvt. Ltd., was also in attendance.
The session concluded with a call for deeper collaboration between automotive companies and technology partners to accelerate responsible AI adoption and unlock its potential across the automotive value chain.
As AI adoption gathers momentum, the discussions at the SIAM Annual Convention underlined its potential to reshape automotive R&D, manufacturing, customer engagement and enterprise operations, while strengthening India’s position in the rapidly evolving global mobility ecosystem.
